Tag Archives: Allentown Pa

Searching for lamps and great lighting for Allentown apartments can be fun…and confusing at times. One of the most popular light fixtures today is the pendant light. More and more Allentown apartments feature pendant lamps because of the their unique beauty, along with the generous luminescence they provide.

Pendant lights are great and can be hung at whatever height a tenant wishes in Allentown apartments.

Pendant lights come in many shapes, sizes and colors. But this example shows how unique and creative a clear glass pendant lamp can be in Allentown apartments.

Pendant lights are great for diffusing or concentrating light, depending on your preference, and are great hung anywhere in your Allentown apartments. They are lovely in living rooms of course, as well as over Allentown apartments kitchen counters and even in your Allentown apartment home office space.

Always look for the best lighting options when choosing Allentown apartments and ask your new landlord if it would be possible to install a few great pendants lights in your new living space.

Feeling Spring? Why not step into spring-filled floral prints when pick decor for your Allentown apartment? Floral or flower printed furniture or wallpaper doesn’t mean antique or Victorian style anymore. There are beautiful modern choices in prints that bring a fresh comfortable feeling to any apartment. Hope you like some of the finds here for your Allentown apartment. I love these chairs above, color and print.

Adding some soft floral print pillows will add a nice contrast in a softly colored room like this one. Note the printed wallpaper also.

A great fresh floral touch for Allentown apartments: Amelia Sofa from Anthropologie.

Adding curves to your apartment space will create a whimsical feel and bring comfort to the eye. Hard edges no more. The following are some great ideas for you Allentown apartment. Adding a bit of circle to your space may bring you a round! Have fun.

One of the best ways to share your apartment peacefully is for you and your new roommate to put together a Roommate Agreement. This agreement can be as formal or informal as you want, as long as you both agree to the terms presented. Both parties (or more if you share your space with 2 or more people) should sign the agreement, promising to uphold the issues presented. You and your roommate should sit down and take some time to address the issues that below and write up your agreement according to the specifications of your living space, as well as your personal preferences.

In the long run having this agreement as a reminder of each of your responsibilities will ease tension when disagreements happen. All childishness and drama will be set aside, and you and your roommate will live together peacefully…and have fun too!

The following are some things to consider when forming your Roommate Agreement:

Expenses. This for many is the hardest issue, but once things are made clear as to who is responsible to pay for what life together will be easier. With respect for each other decide on the rent payment division, food and grocery expenses, and any subsequent utility expenses such as electricity, garbage pick up, or parking.

Storage Spaces. If your apartment, like many, is limited to closet and cabinet space, thoughtful division for personal items will be helpful. Examine all the storage areas together and agree to who will use what space. Keep the space division as equal as possible. This includes kitchen cabinets, refrigerator shelf space, bathroom cabinets, closets, and the entertainment center if you have one, and any built-in shelving.

Space of Apartment in General. Consider what areas of the apartment are shared, like kitchen, living room, and bathroom, and what areas are considered private space, such as your bedroom. Agree to how each of you will approach the others’ private space and adhere to this agreement.

Personal Items. It is most important to consider what items are to be shared and what items are to be kept for individual personal use. Decide how all food items will be shared and be respectful. If one of you has dietary issues this could be very important. Also make agreements on other personal items like shampoos, towel usage, and other grooming essentials like blow dryer use. Apply labels to items that are personal so there is no confusion.

Cleanliness. If both of you are neat freaks I see no problems! But, as with normal living, not all of us are neat 100% of the time. Make an agreement to keep the place looking neat by not leaving unnecessary items around the shared spaces, like clothing, used dishes, ashtrays, magazines, etc. Also, and most importantly, make a chore list for each of your weekly responsibilities to keep the apartment clean. These chores can be rotated weekly or to your own preferences. In this way each of you will be clear on who is responsible for what and held accountable. Post the list in the kitchen area, or somewhere visible as a reminder to get things done.

Noise issues. Make rules to acceptable noise levels for certain times of day. If you or your roommate is a musician, make agreements to when and where you will each practice your instrument and at what times of day so as not to inconvenience the other. Other things to consider are music playing and TV watching and the volume used for each.

Parties and Overnight guests. Another thing to consider is when and how often each of you will have overnight guests or parties. Set agreeable limits. Decide on how much notice needs to be given to your roommate when planning a party or having someone stay over. It’s no fun to wake up and make your way half naked to the kitchen for coffee, only to find some strange guy sitting there. Be sure to inform your roommate beforehand when having someone over. This way no surprises or problems will arise. Planning to have a party together will be tons of fun and with each of you informed properly, with enough time to make arrangements for it or otherwise, this will keep the occasion from getting ruined with a disagreement.

Hope you found some of these suggestions interesting and useful. If you are already sharing an apartment, there is no reason not to incorporate a Roommate Agreement into your present arrangement. This will inevitably help to remove potential conflicts. Thanks for reading.

Finding a roommate to share your Allentown apartment can be a difficult task, but one of the key strategies on your search is to meet the potential roommate in person and interview them. They in turn may do the same. I discovered through experience some interesting questions that you should include on your questionnaire and thought I’d share.

As protocol for the meet up, make sure you decide on a public place to have the interview, especially if this is a stranger responding to your ad for a roommate. Make it a comfortable place, where you can have a coffee or tea and get to know each other. Avoid bars and liquor. You want to have a clear head and a clear atmosphere. Also, I suggest you meet during the day if possible, on a weekend perhaps if you both work full time, or during a lunch hour.

Open your meeting with a nice greeting, and a handshake. First impressions? Take notes in your mind when you can. Your first impression will take you far. Trust them. An immediate bad feeling can be telling you something. When you sit down, don’t be afraid to bring out your list and take notes. This is your place you want to share after all. You will want to find someone truly compatible to make life easier, not more stressful. With that said, here are the questions:

Have you shared an apartment with someone before?

Was the person you roomed with a relative, girlfriend or boyfriend, co-worker, or friend?

Why did you decide to move out?

Was there any problem with your previous roommate?

Do you have a full time job?

What are you work hours?

Do you do any work at home? How often?

Do you smoke?

Do you use recreational drugs or alcohol?

Are you in a serious relationship? Will your boyfriend or girlfriend be staying over and how often?

Do you have a special diet that you follow, vegetarian, diabetic, vegan, or any other?

Are you religious? Does your religious principles effect you daily living and how so?

Do you consider yourself a neat person or carefree and sloppy?

Will you be will to do a share of the chores to maintain a neat and clean apartment?

Will you share the cost of cleaning products for the apartment?

Are you willing to work out and divide the cost of a grocery list each week?

Do you have any pets? If so, what kind?

Friends? How many?

Will your friends visit a lot, and do you like to throw parties for your friends? (This isn’t a bad thing, as long as the two of you are in agreement!)

Do you watch much television? What do you watch? How often?

What time do you usually go to bed, and what time do you get up?

Are you a musician? What instrument do you play? How often do you practice?

Are you willing to co-sign a lease?

Are you willing to sign a roommate agreement?

Are you able to supply references from previous roommates, employer, or previous landlord?

Asking any of these questions will open a dialogue with your new acquaintance and will help you get a feel of what the person is like. Keep in mind that this list is designed for an interview with someone you’ve never met before. If the person you’re meeting is an acquaintance, adjust the questioning accordingly….or perhaps not! It’s up to you, but do take the time to get to know a person before jumping in to sharing your Allentown apartment.

Be adventurous and charge-up any room in your new apartment with a wall of flowers. Wallpaper – a dangerous endeavor for anyone who hasn’t done it before and fearlessness is required, but the results can be breath-taking. Follow these easy instructions or the video below and spend a day off making your room a freshly inspired expression of yourself. Above is a pattern of wallpaper called 11 Reasons to Love Me from Anthropologie.com. as well as the ones featured below.

Block Begonia Wallpaper

Concertina Wallpaper

Love, love this Sweet Pea wallpaper pattern…

and this Dreamscape Mural wallpaper….not exactly flowery, but fearless and funky!

For more help with wallpapering take a look at this awesome video for step by step instructions. Happy wallpapering!

Many apartments have service counters or bar areas within the kitchen/dining rooms for serving and eating. Making this feature of your Allentown apartment can be a fun creative way to show your decorative expression. I found some incredible examples of uniquely designed bar stools to enhance your apartment, like these retro zebra print bar stools found at Etsy.com.

I’ve been coming across more and more designers using carpets that make a statement, the more unusual the better….and I call these carpets art carpets. Consider one of these unique creations to spice up your Allentown apartment living room.

Love this area rug. Using an area carpet to cover cold hardwood floors can be more than just a way for your tired feet to feel comfy, it can actually work as a piece of art and totally reinvent the living space in your Allentown apartment.

Add color and fun to your Allentown apartment entrance way or hallways with one of these carpet runners.

Or add stylish flare with a rug like this one; area rug by Surya found atRug Studio.

Adding art-full designs to the floors of your Allentown apartment is an easy way to express your creativity and give your living space a spark of interest. Area rugs give you many options to show your new apartment style.

If you are looking for an apartment in the Allentown Pa. area or are a landlord with an available apartment check out Apartments i Like for info on renting, moving made easy, or listing an apartment to rent. And click the Renters Corner at the top of this blog for useful information to make renting a new space and moving a stress free endeavor.

Adding candles to your Allentown apartments can add instant romance, elegance, and a softer mood. Everyone looks better in candlelight!
Why not start with a classic pair of lead crystal candlesticks like these, found at My Tableware. They were made in Slovenia and are $84.99.

A fun Valentine’s gift, to someone special, or to yourself are these cute realistic looking cupcake candles featured at Carolina Candles. A unique fun arrangement of them on a plate and lit would add a nice touch for Valentine’s Day at your Allentown apartment.

One of my favorite delights…the floating candle. Set them afloat in a large glass bowl of water (add coloring to water if you wish) and light away. The soft glowing reflections adds warmth and romance to your Allentown apartment. Light, right before guests arrive.

Along with the floating candles, I found these delightful spheres at Home Decor Arcade. Just love the shape, and the glass holders. They are scented too! Would add a nice conversation piece to any Valentine’s dinner occasion.

And here’s a project I’m considering doing…creating my own soy candles. Found all the simple instructions for a soy candle project at Country Home. By using some old sturdy glassware that you find in your Allentown apartment, you can make these wonderful decor additions. Waste not. Don’t throw away the chipped glass. Easy to do, and these are wonderful romantic examples.

If you are looking to rent an apartment in Allentown or are a landlord who has an available apartment to list please visit Apartments i Like for more information.

My fascination with living space of famous people continues. Taking hints from popular interior designers of celebrities homes can enhance your Doylestown apartment.

“The making of the house was as significant to me as the living in it,” says Jennifer Anistan of her Beverly Hills retreat designed by Stephen Shadley. This sleek living room full of warmth opens out to a koi pond. Table is from Todd Merrill Antiques. Glant linen on sofa. Velvet chair is by Manuel Canovas. (March, 2010). Maybe we can’t go so far as to putting a koi pond in our Doylestown apartment, but the rich tones of this room would be easy to duplicate.

For a totally different look to your Doylestown apartment take a look at this stunning 70s-like room of Sir Elton John and his partner David Furnish. This Boogie Nights inspired living room was designed by Martin Lawrence-Bullard. The scenery is L.A., but the minimalist clean lines and color can be inspiring in your Doylestown apartment. Onyx and chrome low tables by Lawrence-Bullar. Carpet by The Rug Company. (Dec. 2009)

Ah, love the comfy look of this space. “We just wanted to feel like you’re in the country,” says Dennis Quaid of his Los Angeles home he shares with wife Kimberly. This relaxed, comfortable interior is both artistic and welcoming. I would add those rust-colored ottomans and table to my Doylestown apartment in a second if I could. Designers John and Krista Everage incorporated the rough-hewn ceiling beams from a Pennsylvania barn. Now there’s something close to home. (Nov. 2008)

Patrica Heaton and David Hunt’s L.A. home is a romantic delight. This Hancock Park home was designed by Bebe Johnson and Ellen Greer. “Despite its large size, there’s a hominess to it,” says the actress. We find this space on the formal side, yet quite inviting. Painting the walls of your Doylestown apartment can change the appearance completely. Consider a soft yellow such as this to bring a bit of warmth to your room. Carpet shown here is by Monsour. Sofa and ottoman (love that orange!) by A. Rudin. (Dec. 2009)

Saved the best for last. Cheryl and Rob Lowe hired architect Don Nulty and designer David Phoenix to design their dream house. Arranging your furniture in the more central area of the large living room in your Doylestown apartment is a great idea. Again here, the soft tones of ivory, tan, and gray meld together. consider gold frames for artwork, mirrors, and of course, the wondrous chandelier if possible in your apartment. In this living room, the photo above the Dutch secretary is by Lyndie Benson. The Sisal rug is by Stark. (Nov. 2010)

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